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Sunil Chhetri has been declared the AIFF Player of the Year 2011. He
was chosen the winner by I-League coaches who voted on a list of 5 players shortlisted for the Award. The criteria for selection stayed performance on the field primarily for India’s International matches and general conduct, both on and off the field.
Sunil who has played 17 International Matches in this Calendar Year has scored 13 goals, the highest by any Indian footballer in 2011. Besides, he has scored 11 goals in 20 Club appearances in 2011. He also stays the recipient of the Arjuna Award and won the Man of the Championship in the recently concluded SAFF Championship in New Delhi.
The Player-of-the-Year will receive a cash award of Rs. 2 lakh plus a silver plaque.
Mr. Kushal Das, the General Secretary of the AIFF lauded congratulated Sunil on his achievement. “I congratulate Sunil for being the AIFF Player-of-the-Year. He has had an outstanding year winning many accolades and I’m sure he will continue his good form in the New Year both for the country and his club,” Mr. Das said.
SUNIL CHHETRI’S PERFORMANCE IN 2011
INTERNATIONAL: 13 goals in 17 matches
Breakup:
January 14, 2011: One goal vs Bahrain (Asian Cup, Doha).
January 18, 2011: One goal vs South Korea (Asian Cup, Doha).
March 21, 2011: One goal vs Chinese Taipeh (AFC Challenge Cup – Qualifiers, Kuala Lumpur).
July 10, 2011: One goal vs Maldives (International Friendly, Male).
November 16, 2011: Two goals vs Malaysia (International Friendly, Kolkata).
December 3, 2011: One goal vs Afghanistan (SAFF Championship, New Delhi).
December 5, 2011: Two goals vs Bhutan (SAFF Championship, New Delhi).
December 7, 2011: One goal vs Sri Lanka (SAFF Championship, New Delhi).
December 9, 2011: Two goals vs Maldives (SAFF Championship, New Delhi).
December 11, 2011: One goal vs Afghanistan (SAFF Championship, New Delhi).
CLUB FOOTBALL:
7 goals in 10 matches for Chirag United (I-league 2010-11)
Breakup:
April 3, 2011: One goal vs Dempo (Kolkata).
April 10, 2011: One goal vs Churchill Brothers (Margao).
April 16, 2011: One goal vs Mohun Bagan (Kolkata).
April 29, 2011: Two goals vs ONGC (Kohlapur).
May 29, 2011: One goal vs Viva Kerala (Kolkata).
June 1, 2011: One goal vs East Bengal (Kolkata).
4 goals in 10 matches for McDowell Mohun Bagan (2011-12)
Breakup:
September 21, 2011: One goal vs Churchill Brothers (Pune – Federation Cup)
November 6, 2011: Two goals vs Mumbai FC (Pune – I-League)
November 10, 2011: One goal vs Churchill Brothers (Kolkata – I-League).
GRAND TOTAL: 24 GOALS IN 2011
RECIPIENTS OF THE AIFF PLAYER-OF-THE-YEAR AWARD
1992: I.M.Vijayan
1993: V.P.Sathyan
1994: Jo Paul Ancheri
1995: Bhaichung Bhutia
1996: Bruno Coutinho
1997: I.M.Vijayan
2000: I.M.Vijayan
2001: Jo Paul Ancheri
2002: Deepak Mondal
2003: Tomba Singh
2004: S.Venkatesh
2005: Climax Lawrence
2006: Surkumar Singh
2007: Sunil Chhetri
2008: Bhaichung Bhutia
2009: Subrata Pal
2010: Gouramangi Singh.
